Penetration testing, as an important cybersecurity assessment method, aims to simulate the behavior and techniques of malicious attackers and conduct in-depth security tests on target systems, networks, or applications.

Penetration testers will use various tools and techniques, such as vulnerability scanners, network sniffers, etc., and use their rich knowledge and experience to actively explore possible security vulnerabilities in the system. These vulnerabilities cover various aspects such as port opening and access control issues at the network layer, the risk of injection attacks at the application layer (such as SQL injection and command injection), and improper system configuration.

The testing process usually consists of several stages. The first is information collection. Through open channels or technical means, information such as target network architectures and application types is understood as comprehensively as possible. Vulnerability detection is then carried out, using a combination of automated tools and manual testing to carefully find possible security weaknesses. Once a vulnerability is discovered, it enters the exploit stage. An attempt is made to use these vulnerabilities to obtain system privileges, simulating attackers to go deeper into the system to assess the degree of harm that the vulnerability may cause, such as data disclosure and system control.

Penetration testing can not only help enterprises detect and fix potential security risks in advance and avoid losses caused by real attacks, but also test the effectiveness of an enterprise's existing security protection system and provide a basis for further improving security strategies.